Despite continued inflationary pressures, the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing reported 54.5% PMI, marking nine straight months of expansion, with stronger new orders and growing manufacturing employment. Source PR Newswire | | |
Question of the Month:
We're now in the last quarter of 2026; how is your business or organization performing?
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2nd Congressional District Candidate Debate - Chamber Members Only, sign up now!
Monday, October 12, 3:30 - 4:30 pm (doors close at 3:15 pm), Dakota County Technical College, Dakota Room [Available to all via live stream on Town Square TV.]
Level Up Lunch
Thursday, October 15, 11:30 - 1:00 pm, 5-8 Club, 1741 South Robert Street, West St. Paul
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| Beyond the Yellow Ribbon & Twin City Homes Happy Hour & Handshakes | | |
October’s Happy Hour & Handshakes heads to Fireside Restaurant & Bar, co-hosted by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and Twin City Homes. Get to know two organizations that share a commitment to service and community. Bring a coworker and take part in a happy hour with a little extra heart! Register HERE and mark your calendar!
Wednesday, October 21, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Fireside Restaurant & Bar, 3410 150th Street West, Rosemount
| | Ribbon Cutting at Wild Tree Wellness | | |
Celebrate the Ribbon Cutting of Wild Tree Wellness, one of DCR’s newest Members! Learn more about the mental health services they provide in our communities. Register HERE, we'd love to have you there.
Tuesday, October 20, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
4040 Nichols Road, Eagan
| | Dakota County State of the County Recap | | |
The State of the County drew a packed house last Tuesday at the Viking Auditorium at Viking Lakes. DCR President and Chief Mission Officer Jon Althoff and Vikings Executive VP Steve Poppen welcomed County Board Chair Laurie Halverson and County Manager Heidi Welsch to address the record crowd. A tour of the facility was offered afterwards.
County representatives shared continued messaging on the financial pressures the County is facing. They approved a preliminary levy increase of 18.5%, which includes a number of cuts and unfilled staff positions. The final vote on the levy will be held in December. It won't be more than the 18.5%. Click HERE to review the slide presentation shared at the address.
| | State of the Airport Luncheon Recap | | |
At the recent State of the Airport Luncheon, Metropolitan Airports Commission Executive Director and CEO Brian Ryks shared that MSP ranked #1 among North American mega airports in the J.D. Power study for the third consecutive year, sweeping all seven categories. The airport welcomes 36 million travelers annually, serves as a hub for two carriers, and has $2 billion in investments planned over the next three years.
Allegiant President Greg Anderson also took the stage to discuss the Sun Country/Allegiant merger and what it could mean for the future of air travel in our Region.
| | ChiroWay Eagan Ribbon Cutting Recap | | The DCR Chamber was excited to join the River Heights Chamber to celebrate ChiroWay Eagan with an official ribbon cutting! 🎉 Congratulations to the ChiroWay team on this milestone and thank you to everyone who came out to help welcome them to the DCR community. | | FREE Cyber Security Training in 2027 | | |
Cyber Security Training begins January 11 and runs through March 10 at Dakota County Technical College, and the cohort is already half full!
Thanks to a Minnesota Office of Higher Education Dual Pipeline Grant secured by the DCR Foundation, the program is 100% funded, including classes, materials and the certification exam. Kwik Trip gas/gift cards will also help cover travel costs. In the hybrid program, participants earn a Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity lifetime certification and digital badge upon passing the exam.
Interested? Names are needed by the end of October, and space is limited. Contact Jon Althoff with “cyber security” in the subject line to learn more or reserve your spot.
| | BEA Awards Gala - The Golden Standard (and Desserts)! | | |
Get ready to hit the red carpet and celebrate in Golden Standard style at this year’s Business Excellence Awards! Tickets and tables are on sale now. Purchase yours HERE.
At the end of the night, there will be a MAD dash for desserts! 🍰 Tables will pool their bids for the chance to race to the dessert table and claim their favorite sweet treat. The higher your table’s bid, the earlier you get to dash!
We’re looking for show-stopping dessert donations to fill the table. Contact Kayla, if interested in donating something sweet! And, to find out how good the desserts really are, ask Nate!
| | DCR Mayors Cup and Kick$4aCURE - The Results are In | | |
Mayors Cup Results: Congratulations to West St. Paul Mayor Dave Napier, who led this year’s field by making 22 of 25 kicks (88%), setting a new Mayors Cup record! 🏈🩷 This is the first time in three years that Rosemount did not take home the DCR Mayors Cup Kicking Trophy, ending their three-year streak of winning both the kicking and dollars raised trophies. They still have the opportunity to bring home the 'Dollars Raised' trophy as donations are accepted through the end of the month. Dollar Leaders As of October 4: County Commissioner Droste - $800, City of Eagan - $605 and West St. Paul - $361.
Click on your favorite Mayor/Commissioner below to move your City or County to the top.
Mayor Nick Lien, Mayor Mike Maguire, Mayor Dave Napier, Mayor Jeff Weisensel,
Council Member Mike Supina
Kick$4aCURE Results: In a hotly contested battle, Josh Sargent of Luminate Bank defended his title by making 23/25 kicks - well done, Josh! Taylor Werness came in second with 19/25 and there was a tie for third with Stephanie Lamphere of Zinpro and Nate Lehmeyer of Wings Financial each kicking 18/25. Congratulations to all who kicked and gave of their time to benefit breast cancer research!
All funds raised through the kicking competition benefit DCR Member American Cancer Society, supporting breast cancer research, treatment and patient support during PINKtober.
| | Election Season Happenings and Resources | | |
REMINDER: The CD2 Candidate Debate between Matt Little and Eric Pratt will be held on Monday, October 12, from 3:30 - 4:30 pm at Dakota County Technical College. Register HERE (Members Only). Doors open at 2:30 pm and close at 3:15 pm. Town Square TV will stream the debate.
Search 411 for Candidate Information - The League of Women Voters offers a variety of election resources available at Vote411.org and will be hosting several key candidate forums throughout the DCR Region.
| | New Members - Welcome to YOUR DCR! | | The Amazon building exterior is almost completed with the nearby Opperman Drive extension beginning Fall, 2026. The project will be operational in 2028. | | |
The City and Chamber celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new parking lot at the Trinity Health Services campus with Trinity staff Mike Syltie, Mallory Benson and Joy Lauterbach.
The project marks another exciting improvement to the campus, and it was great to gather with staff, residents, the City and other community members to officially celebrate the new space.
| | Candidate profiles are available for the two candidates running for Mayor and the six running for City Council in the 2026 general election. Click HERE to read the profile for each candidate. | | |
The MN State Fire Department Association named the Rosemount Fire Department as Department of the Year. Chief Springer noted this award is a reflection of the men and women of the Department, working tirelessly to respond to the needs of this growing community with call volumes rapidly increasing.
Thank you City of Rosemount
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| | Check out upcoming DCR Chamber events on our online calendar! | | FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL FOR EVENT PHOTOS, LAST MINUTE UPDATES & MORE | | | | |
